Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Above: Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla and former US President Bill Clinton

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Puerto Rico has a large-scale solar project in the works, along with a pair of new wind farms. And if it plays its cards right, the US territory could lead the entire Caribbean toward a green future, according to former United States President Bill Clinton.

Clinton arrived in Puerto Rico this week as part of a push to promote green energy on the island, first meeting with Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla and then delivering a speech on energy and climate change at the Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico Tuesday afternoon.

“You clearly in Puerto Rico have a chance to lead the entire Caribbean in a move toward being energy independent,” he said. “You have a chance to set an example to the world in having an energy policy that allows economic growth and environmental responsibility.”

He said that, as in countries around the Caribbean, high energy costs were crippling economic growth in Puerto Rico.

“Whenever an economy has a cost that is glaringly out of line with its competitors, it is a severe constraint on growth,” he said.

“I I were planning Puerto Rico’s economic future, and wanted to keep the unemployment rate down and stop outmigration of Puerto Ricans and encourage them to come home, I would ask myself, ‘what can I do to increase the economic growth rate here in a way that generates more good jobs?’” he said. “The most obvious answer is to cut the cost of energy.”

Clinton offered several solutions – suggesting both a “Puerto Rican strategy and a neighbourhood strategy and eventually a Caribbean strategy” for energy.

That would involve looking to liquefied natural gas and increased solar and wind, the cost of which had fallen dramatically in recent years.

“Ultimately, the goal should be to liberate you from any reliance on oil in the generation of your electricity,” he said.

Recent years have seen a growth in green energy projects in Puerto Rico, highlighted by new wind farms in Santa Isabel and Punta Lima and a major solar energy project in Guayama.

And Clinton said projects in nearby countries like Haiti and the Dominican Republic underscored the promise of green energy for the Caribbean.

He specifically mentioned the Mirebalais Teaching Hospital in Haiti, which is entirely powered by solar energy and is the largest solar-powered building in the Caribbean.

“[Puerto Rico] could lead the whole Caribbean away from oil, away from the turbulence that climate change will be toward a more sustainable economy and a much more affordable one for the people who already live here, already work here and could use a little lower utility bill to invest in other things which will generate more economic growth by far,” he said.

Pierluisi also added that Clinton told him about the status and outcome of the past which prevailed statehood plebiscite. (File)

By Limarys Suarez Torres / lsuarez1@elnuevodia.com

Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi met this evening with former President Bill Clinton to speak on renewable energy projects and their concern about the status of Puerto Rico.

"We talked about the challenges facing Puerto Rico and made emphasis on renewable energy projects and companies that want to come here.'s Think Puerto Rico should be a model in the energy field," said Pierluisi on leaving the meeting at the Sheraton Old San Juan.

Pierluisi also added that Clinton told him about the status and outcome of the past which prevailed statehood plebiscite.

"I explained the two projects that are before Congress on the status, what he did was listen to me and thank me for the information I gave him. Hopefully the governor take the meeting with him," he said.

Meanwhile, Pierluisi said the former U.S. thinks Puerto Rico can establish alliances with other Caribbean countries on renewable energy.

"I told him that the main economic development strategy that has been implemented in Puerto Rico from 70 to the present has been the largest grant tax exemptions to foreign companies investing in the island and it's clear that has not worked" said.

As he left the meeting at the Sheraton Resident Commissioner was preparing to go to renewable energy forum at the Conservatory of Music.

While Clinton came out hastily escorted to a brief meeting with the governor Alejandro García Padilla in La Fortaleza.

García Padilla said that during the first months of his administration adopted "the broader environmental and energy policy."(JOSE.MADERA @ GFRMEDIA.COM)

By ELNUEVODIA.COM

The secretary general of the New Progressive Party (PNP), Jose "Pichy" Torres Zamora, accused the governor Alejandro García Padilla of lying to U.S. president Bill Clinton on energy policy, and criticized him for wasting the opportunity to discuss with exmandatario the issue of the political status of Puerto Rico.

"Today (Tuesday) we have seen how, once again, Governor irresponsibly playing with the future of the people of Puerto Rico.Alejandro Garcia Padilla has had before him the president of the nation, and lied on the issue of renewable energy, "said Torres Zamora in a statement.

During his message on Renewable Energy Forum, García Padilla said that during the first months of his administration adopted the "widest environmental and energy policy," and said that during the past two weeks have issued permits for the construction of generating systems 100 megawatts of solar energy.

However, the PNP general secretary argued that, since joining Fortress, García Padilla supposedly "froze" around 62 projects of renewable energy production that left NPP signed former governor Luis Fortuño.

"Hypocritically speak of renewable energy when the first thing he did when he entered the island was mismanage freeze countless projects PNP administration had made ready. Participants, in their homes, they have to ask how it intends to fulfill its promise of down to 40% dependence on oil if it fails to start the project, "he said.

García Padilla said that the goal of his administration is to reduce dependence on oil for energy from 69% to 40% within five years.

Furthermore, Torres Zamora criticized the political status issue of Puerto Rico was not part of the agenda during Clinton's brief visit.

"We have a majority voting people who said he wants to define its political status, and Garcia Padilla continues to ignore that claim," said Torres Zamora.

Bill Clinton To Talk Green In Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – "La Isla del Encanto" is ready to receive a very special guest to talk green.

Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to visit the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico to promote renewable energy projects.

Gov. Alejandro García Padilla says Clinton is expected to arrive Monday and talk about ways the island can launch projects through the Clinton Foundation.

Puerto Rico is already the planned site of the Caribbean's largest solar energy project, which would feature 100,000 solar panels. It's also expected to host the region's largest wind farm with 44 turbines.

The island currently depends on petroleum to generate nearly 70 percent of its power.

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